Old Gods, New Enigmas: Marx's Lost Theory

Excellent, very intellectual treatises challenging traditional Marxism.

Really enjoying this book. It is an excellent addition to my library of political thought.

Good read

Mike Davis returns to his theoretical roots with this volume, attempting to give Karl Marx a toehold for the 21st century.

ok

Good to have

“Old Gods, New Enigmas” by Mike Davis is an ambitious work of historic Marxism for our times. Professor Davis is an esteemed scholar who brings a lifetime of study, teaching and activism to the subject. This unusually perspicacious, informed and wide-ranging study succeeds in opening our minds to the very real possibility of life after capitalism.Professor Davis takes on the crucial question of ‘historical agency’ as he leads us through a fascinating people’s history of struggle under capitalism. We learn how labor’s successful campaign to reduce the working day required cross-national solidarity. The author believes that the time for such international solidarity has come again as human progress collides with catastrophic climate change.Professor Davis goes on to discuss the life and times of Piotr Kropotkin whose nascent work on climate change proves that the risks of human disruption to the environment have been well-known for years (at least within learned circles). In this light, Professor Davis contends that there is no planetary shortage of carrying capacity if we are willing to make ‘public affluence’ the engine of sustainable equality. The implication is that we can either learn how to lift each other up or we will all perish together.I highly recommend this thoughtful book to demanding readers.

Although Jesus is my lodestar not Karl Marx, I nonetheless found this new book by Davis (Old Gods) fascinating , particularly the last chapter with its warning about a "triage of humanity." From the standpoint of Liberation Theology Davis is clearly right to advocate for necessary rather then the possible. The Pope says the same thing, perhaps Davis is listening.

alles bestens